National Academy of Sciences

Organization and membership

Membership in the NAS is an honor conferred by current members in recognition of distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. New members are elected annually through a peer selection process that evaluates scientific accomplishments and contributions to a field; details of the election process and its purpose are described in materials about the election of new members. The NAS is one of the components of the broader National Academies grouping; see the umbrella organization at National Academies.

Related bodies

• National Academy of Engineering (NAE) — the parallel organization focused on engineering disciplines.
• Scientific advisory activities often draw on interdisciplinary cooperation across academies.
• National Research Council (NRC) — the operational arm that historically carried out many consensus studies and organized committees.

Activities, publications, and examples

The NAS carries out a wide range of activities including convening expert panels, producing consensus reports on technical and policy topics, offering workshops and symposia, and publishing the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a prominent scientific journal. Studies may be requested or funded by government agencies, foundations, or other institutions; for instance, the NAS has undertaken projects to evaluate emerging technologies and environmental interventions. One such effort was a multi-phase study to assess the possible effects, risks, and governance issues associated with climate geoengineering, a project supported by agencies including the CIA, NOAA, and NASA and described in announcements about the geoengineering study.

History and development

Founded in the 19th century, the NAS has evolved from an advisory body into a broad institution with an array of programs that bridge science, engineering, health, and public policy. Over time its work has influenced federal science budgets, public health policy, environmental regulation, and national defense planning. Its reports are frequently cited as authoritative syntheses of current scientific knowledge.

Roles and significance

The NAS serves several distinct functions: recognizing scientific excellence through membership; providing impartial reviews and recommendations on complex scientific issues; and communicating science to policymakers and the public. Because its studies bring together experts across disciplines, NAS findings often shape legislation, regulatory decisions, and research priorities. For more on how the NAS structures its advisory work, see materials on governance and program operations at the National Academies.